Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday played down the possibility of his Deputy Premier and Commerce Minister, Somkid Jatusripitak, ending his political career.

Thaksin said he did not think Somkid's departure would have any great impact on his government, especially when it came to business confidence.

"Today I am the major force [in the government] and everybody else is just my helper," Thaksin told reporters during his trip to Chiang Mai.

He said Somkid had always been in touch with him. As for caretaker Public Health Minister Pinij Charusombat, who disclosed on Tuesday that Somkid would leave politics while he himself would not accept any Cabinet post in a Thai Rak Thai-led government, Thaksin said Pinij had broken the news to him long ago. According to Thaksin, Pinij wanted to provide an opportunity to younger politicians.

Thaksin remained tight-lipped yesterday over whether he would seek another term as government head. "It's not the time now to talk about it," he said.

Somkid, also a Thai Rak Thai Party deputy leader, has been viewed by political observers as a potential replacement for Thaksin if the Thai Rak Thai leader opts not to assume the premiership.

The de-facto head of the ruling party's economic team, Somkid yesterday avoided reporters covering the Commerce Ministry. He could not be reached for comment about his political future.

A party source said yesterday Pinij's announcement about Somkid's decisions were an attempt by a group of Thai Rak Thai faction leaders to pressure Thaksin to take a break from politics and change the way the party list was being prepared.

Those faction leaders met at a Bangkok restaurant recently to discuss the matter and came up with the idea of seeking no Cabinet posts, the source said.

Key party figures close to Thaksin, including Sudarat Keyu-raphan, Newin Chidchob and Prommin Lertsuridej, are included in the party list to contest the next election. Somkid and party secretary general Suriya Jungrung-reangkit are also on the party list.

However, most faction leaders, including Pinij, Somsak Thepsuthin, Suwat Liptapanlop, Sora-at Klinpratoom and Sonthaya Khunplome, are put on the list of ministerial candidates, according to the source.

The faction leaders were concerned that they could be sidelined if they failed to secure Cabinet seats, because without places on the party list they would have no MP seats either, the source said.

Unhappy with the way the key lists were prepared, many faction leaders did not attend recent party meetings on preparation of the party list, the source said.

Business leaders yesterday expressed concern that Somkid's decision to end his political career could affect confidence in the business community if Thai Rak Thai manages to form the next government.

However, former ruling party MPs were not as worried about the prospect of Somkid departing. They claimed the government's real economic czar was Thaksin.

Former Bangkok MP Mongkol Kimsunchan said Somkid might need a break after a long period of hard work. He did not think Somkid's departure would have any negative impact as "the key man behind the party's economic policies is the premier".

A party source also said Somkid's departure would not affect the party's image in the election. "We have many economic experts and some of them are respected businessmen. If the premier was going to leave the party, the impact would be greater," the source said.

Kuthep Saikrajang, a party lawyer, said he had not heard Somkid talk about leaving. He said the party would be able to go on even though if members leave.

Hassaya Chartmontri,

 Sucheera Pinijparakarn

 The Nation